Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria or linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease (claimed as circulatory problems), degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and generalized annular bulging at L3-L4 and L4-5, post-traumatic stress disorder, bronchitis, knee disorders, headaches, and hand coordination problems, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The veteran's claims are denied as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent, is denied as the maximum disability rating of 10 percent is authorized under VA regulations.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus was denied as the maximum available rating of 10 percent is already assigned.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, nor was a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The decision is based on lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease, which the veteran claimed as vertigo. The condition was found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and chronic tinnitus, as well as increased evaluations for PTSD and bladder dysfunction, are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be returned to the Board once these issues have been addressed.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus is denied, while a later effective date of September 17, 1968, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his combat exposure. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back problems in service contributed to his current low back disability, and therefore grants service connection for a low back disorder. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an increased disability rating for his service-connected tinnitus, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for service-connected tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating is the maximum available under current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating was appropriate under current regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are considered to be due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for separate compensable evaluations for bilateral tinnitus and service connection for vertigo also claimed as Meniere's disease, finding that only a single evaluation is assignable for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability ratings for each ear for service-connected tinnitus, finding that only a single 10% rating is authorized regardless of whether the tinnitus is perceived as unilateral, bilateral, or in the head.

The VA denied a request for an increased evaluation of 10% for tinnitus, finding that the current regulations do not allow for separate evaluations for each ear.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus, to include separate evaluations for each ear. The highest schedular evaluation assignable is a 10 percent rating.